After another rain delay, Marlins fall to Rockies to end win streak

DENVER (AP) -- At the root of David Phelps' rough outing was a lack of command.

Phelps gave up a career-high tying nine earned runs in 3 2-3 innings and the Miami Marlins lost 10-5 Saturday to the Colorado Rockies, whose 17-hit attack included two homers by Wilin Rosario and a three-run shot by Carlos Gonzalez in another rain-delayed game at Coors Field.

"I wasn't ahead of guys," Phelps said. "I wasn't hitting my spots. I was up in the zone. I was down in the zone early for balls. It was just a terrible game."

His performance, he added, had nothing to do with the weather or pitching in hitter-friendly Coors Field.

"I just didn't pitch well," he said. "It happens. And when you have a bad time, you hope it's four or five runs and not nine."

Thundershowers delayed the game's start for 71 minutes, the 13th time this season a game in Denver has been postponed or delayed by weather. Colorado has had a total of 15 hours, 40 minutes of rain delays at home this season.

But the rain clouds gave way to mostly sunny skies and once the grounds crew cleared away the water on the field, the Rockies came out swinging. They put together a four-run inning in the first and a five-run inning in the fourth, when Rosario and Gonzalez hit the first back-to-back home runs by the Rockies this season.

Chris Rusin (2-0), claimed off waivers from the Chicago Cubs last September, allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings in winning for the first time in his last 10 starts dating to Aug. 14, 2013.

His first win with the Rockies came in an emergency relief role on May 31, when he stepped in for injured Jordan Lyles (left toe sprain) to beat Philadelphia.

Rusin struck out a career-high eight, fanning Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton four times, the first pitcher to accomplish that. Stanton had homered in each of his previous three games before going 1 for 5 Saturday with a double.

"He mixed his pitches and changed speeds. He made it tough on us," said the Marlins' Dee Gordon, who doubled to lead off the game but was thrown out trying for third

Phelps (2-3) trailed 2-0 before getting his first out as the first three batters he faced hit safely, capped by a two-run triple by Nolan Arenado. Rosario added an RBI single and Michael McKenry a run-scoring triple to put the Rockies up 4-0.

Phelps struck out three and walked none, but got his pitches were up in the zone.

"There were a lot of pitches that were elevated," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. "And this is not a good ballpark to do that in. You can't miss up here."

The Marlins got a run back in the second on Adeiny Hechavarria's RBI single but an inning later, Rosario drove a 1-1 offering from Phelps over the center field wall for his first homer.

With two out and two on in the fourth, Gonzalez drove the first pitch he saw into the stand of evergreen trees beyond the center field fence, finishing Phelps.

Rosario greeted reliever Andre Rienzo with a drive into the left field bleachers for the second multihomer game of his career. His first came May 12, 2012, against Atlanta.

Trailing 10-2, the Marlins scored three runs in the ninth on five hits against Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Jarred Cosart (vertigo)threw 81 pitches over five innings in an extended spring training game Saturday, allowing six runs (four earned). He struck out five and walked three. ... Reliever Bryan Morris left the game in the sixth inning with a low back strain. He is day to day.

UP NEXT

Marlins: RHP Jose Urena (0-2) again seeks his first career big league win in Sunday's series finale against the Rockies.

Rockies: RHP Kyle Kendrick (2-7) has had a tough time keeping the ball in the yard at Coors Field, where he has allowed eight of the 15 home runs hit off him. He's gone 0-3 with a 7.99 ERA in four starts at home.